How an Organized Work Space Can Increase Productivity

It doesn’t matter if you are a solo-entrepreneur, a blogger or even the CEO of a Fortune 500 company… the setup of your desk and work space can greatly influence your productivity and work flow throughout the day.

As an entrepreneur who works from home, I have my own big office to work out of. My desk and office space is exactly the way I want it to be set up, but that doesn’t mean it won’t get messy from time to time.

Clutter on your desk can add up quickly and sometimes you just need to take the time to throw everything in a pile, sort through it and get that distraction out of your way. A clean desk is a distraction-free zone!

While the setup and cleanliness of your office and desk can improve your productivity, it’s also important to keep applications, hardware and time management tools organized.

Whether your focus is on creating ad campaigns, building your e-commerce business or simply producing better content for your blogs, having an organized work space can make all of the difference.

Below I have listed three of my favorite ways to cut wasted time and distractions from my office location, while also focusing in on getting more work done.

A Paperless Office

Ten years ago it might have made sense for you to have papers and documents all over the place, but now it doesn’t. Less people are using postal mail, fax machines and real paper to get things done. Through the use of a paperless office you can scan any needed documents into your computer and then throw out the paper. There are also many web sites that allow you to send faxes, create PDF files and sign documents online for free.

Accessing Your Business Anywhere

It’s now easier than ever to make your business paperless and virtual. Through the use of the cloud and being able to access your email anywhere, you should be able to run your business from your home or office, a coffee shop or on the other side of the world. Email is important for any business, but you should also be able to access documents, reports, your website and many other features from anywhere in the world.

The New Office is Mobile

Speaking of being able to access your business anywhere — mobile devices and tablets are increasingly being used to run businesses of all sizes and not just for checking emails. Many businesses are using tablets instead of cash registers and merchant processing machines. Some retail stores are also using tablets for their staff to look up product information and place orders with customers throughout their store. Mobile devices are completely changing the way business is done in today’s world.

Building Your Office and Business for the Future

The next time you are sitting at your desk or in your office, think about the consistent distractions you encounter throughout the day. The next step is for you to take action and see how you can remove or automate these distractions. For each improvement you make to your office and work flow, think about how much time you will be saving over the course of a full year!

What other office clean up tips and recommendations do you have for increasing productivity?